Many experienced gardeners prefer the seedling soil prepared with their own hands to the finished substrate. It is often much more useful and more budgetary. Preparing the soil will not be difficult, the main thing is to start action in advance - in the autumn period before the onset of negative temperatures.
In order for the mixture to be of high quality, soil from the beds will not work. The base of the substrate should be peat, sand, turf soil, compost, humus and soil from under certain plants, such as alder or nettle.
What is the favorable soil from under alder and nettle
These plants were not chosen by chance - the reason is the peculiarities of their growth and development.
The alder root system is characterized by development in close relationship with nitrogen-fixing bacteria. They are called actinomycetes. On the roots of alder there are unique nodules, similar to swellings. Working bacteria live in them. These bacteria are characterized by excellent metabolic performance. Actinomycetes take nitrogen from the air in molecular form and return it to the soil in the form of organic compounds. The falling alder leaves contain high-ash nitrogen. It is thanks to the combination of these criteria that the soil in the near-trunk circle of alder is rich in nitrogen compounds, which are so necessary for other crops.
If alder is grown in garden plots not so often, then with nettle everything is easier. This plant is found everywhere. Nettle has the ability to store nitrogen and other nutrients that are commonly found in top dressing. Therefore, the soil in places where nettle grows is loose and fertile, and also contains valuable elements such as potassium and magnesium. The root system of nettle is able to secrete compounds that activate the formation of humus. Nettle soil has a neutral acidity index, contains elements of favorable microflora and is acceptable for growing any vegetable crops, except onions and legumes plants. The use of nettle soil in the composition of the nutrient substrate increases the natural immunity of plants against most of the known diseases.
How to collect soil
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Before preparing a fertile substrate, it is necessary to free the collected soil from the remnants of foliage, roots and stem parts of plants. This is especially true for the long rhizomes of nettles.
You can find plots with the desired land, guided by external signs. In places where alder or nettle grows, the soil will be crumbly and have a rich brown tint. In addition, the most attentive will be able to catch the characteristic smell of foliage and mature compost.
When collecting land, you should act as carefully as possible so as not to damage the roots of plants with a shovel. Large pieces of turf should not be removed - it will take a long time to recover.
Soil preparation rules
After the soil is collected, it must first be passed through a sieve before adding to the composition of the substrate. This will help weed out small pebbles, root debris and other plant parts.
Also, it will not be superfluous to disinfect the soil. To do this, use the method of heat treatment, freezing or treatment with a manganese solution.
Once the soil is prepared, you can start connecting the components. The optimal composition of the substrate for growing seedlings of most vegetable crops should contain in equal parts peat of normalized acidity, collected soil, sod land, mature compost, sand. It is recommended to add a glass of wood ash to a bucket of the resulting mixture.
The finished substrate should overwinter in an unheated room or just in a garden under a shelter.
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